A.A. DAILY READINGHitting bottom opened my mind and I became willing
to try something different. What I tried was A.A. My new life in the
Fellowship was a little like learning how to ride a bike for the first time: A.A. became
my training wheels and my supporting hand. It's not that I wanted the help so much
at the time; I simply did not want to hurt like that again. My desire to avoid
hitting bottom again was more powerful than my desire to drink. In the beginning
that was what kept me sober. But after a while I found myself working the Steps to
the best of my ability. I soon realized that my attitudes and actions were changing
--if ever so slightly. One Day at a Time, I became comfortable with myself, and
others, and my hurting started to heal. Thank God for the training wheels and
supporting hand that I choose to call Alcoholics Anonymous.Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC

I pulled out the map.
I'll go here, I thought, and there.
I'll visit this place, then that one.
My mind raced with excitement
at all the places left to see.
I felt overwhelmed, wondering if I could get
to all the places I wanted to visit.
For a moment I forgot to look around and
appreciate where I was-in the forest at the
foot of Mount Olympus in Olympic State Park.

Don't get ahead of yourself.
There are many wonderful places to visit,
many experiences to have, many people
to meet and enjoy.
But you aren't there yet.
There will be some trials, too.
More lessons along the path.
But you aren't there yet, either.

Stay in this moment.
It contains the experience you need to have.
This moment contains your happiness.
Living this moment, being fully present for it,
is the way to get to the next experience,
the next person, the next emotion,
the next adventure.
Cherish the moment.
Feel all there is to feel.
See all there is to see.

Learn the lessons of today,
and you will be prepared for the adventures
and joys of tomorrow.
Be here now. This is the only place you need to be.
And from this place, all things are possible.-Melody Beattie

Let Go and Let God.You
know what it means but how to apply such a simple phrase to the events and circumstances
of your lifethats something far more difficult to do. To Let go is to
unlearn. To unlearn that your will is the center of the universe, to unlearn that your
emotional and spiritual well-being is attached to the fulfillment of what you want, to
unlearn that your way is THE way to living your life.

To let God is to live the spirit of the saying Man plans, God laughs. To let
God is to follow the path of your Higher Power rather than micromanaging your life and
the lives of others. To let God is to live in trust that your Higher Powers
design for your life is far more grand than the design youve created for yourself.

To let go and let God is to unlearn the belief that serving your will is the
path to emotional and spiritual well-being. To let God is to entrust your emotional
and spiritual well-being to your Higher Power.Today I will unlearn

Just
me sitting along the shore
with absolutely nothing to do
How I love these quiet moments
of peaceful reflection and drifting
I wander to such wondrous realms of imagination and contemplation
These times alone are both my therapy
and a very special reward to myself
The calming sounds of the waves
and the scent of the sea breezes
Are also welcome elixirs for my spirit
soothing my sometimes weary soul
And, I never leave this magical place
without a profound sense of renewal
In fact, I've visited this place so often
that all I have to do is close my eyes
Then I'm transported to it's welcoming
embrace and its wondrous healing power
These time outs from the temporal world
are so critical to my spiritual growth
For they remind me of who I was and am
as well as who I am trying to become
Without them, I might find it very easy to
become lost in the everyday clutter and noise
And, what a shame that would be to lose
my focus on why I am here in the first place
I wonder if everyone is fortunate enough
to have such a mystical place to visit
And, do they take the time as I do
to get back in touch with themselves
After all, it only takes a little of our time
and we can spend that any way we choose.
-dennis j hopkins

As recovering
addicts, we find that we are still dependent, but our dependence has shifted from the
things around us to a loving God and the inner strength we get in our relationship with
Him." Basic Text pp.67-68

For many
addicts, rebelliousness is second nature. We didn't want to depend on anyone or anything,
and especially not on God. The beauty of using, we thought, was that it gave us the power
to be and feel anything we wanted, all by ourselves. But the price we paid for this
illusory freedom was a dependence beyond our worst nightmares. Rather than freeing us,
using enslaved us.

When we came to Narcotics Anonymous, we learned that dependence on God didn't have to mean
what we may have thought it meant. Yes, if we wanted to be restored to sanity, we would
need to tap "a Power greater than ourselves". However, we could choose our own
concept of this Higher Power-we could even make one up. Dependence on a Higher Power would
not limit us, we discovered; it would free us.

The Power we
find in recovery is the power we lacked on our own. It is the love we were afraid to
depend on others for. It is the sense of personal direction we never had, the guidance we
couldn't humble ourselves to ask for or trust others to give. It is all these things, and
it is our own. Today, we are grateful to have a Higher Power to depend on.

TWELVE
STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS DAILY QUOTE
We perceive that only through utter defeat are we able to take our first steps toward
liberation and strength. Our admissions of personal powerlessness finally turn out
to be firm bedrock upon which happy and purposeful lives may be built.TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS,
p. 21

Recover from
chemical dependency as well as its toxic impact on family members.Raise your
children to choose to be alcohol and other drugs
free. Learn how
to in Dr. Frischs, Psy.D. Recovery book series.